Neko-Yuff16: Yeah, she's gonna get it soon. But she has to be caught first.
oi-vey: I guess I could take the happy vibes. And yeah, it is a trap.
lisamonster: I'd respond, but it would give it all away.
LilCheekyAngel: thanks! I'll try.
Riny Beoulve: Hyper is good! I'm glad you liked. Just wait till you see what comes next.
Ghost: Don't worry I took care of the goons. But they still need to suffer more.
Filter season: Just wait till I make it come true.
Chibi: Yes, you are missing something. You are SO gonna hate me when you see what your surprise is too. Remember that conversation we had a couple nights ago? hehehe...
A/n: Before I forget, I just want to apoiligize to all the men who are reading this. Just wanted to prepare you.
"Sir Auron, guardian of High Summoner Braska, and then to High Summoner Yuna. You have been accused of the kidnapping and murder of Lady Rikku, daughter of Cid, leader of the Al Bhed. How do you plead to these charges?"
"I have been convicted of vile crimes against the Al Bhed. I can do nothing except to plead guilty." With his head held high Auron answered just as Kaleya knew he would.
She sat on a balcony overlooking the trial. She was pleased with herself. The great Sir Auron was going to take the fall for her, and he didn't even know it. She moved her hand to clasp Kyo's within her own.
He glanced over at her and gave a sad smile. "It will be alright." He whispered. "The murderer will get what is due."
"I'm not worried about that. I know he will." She flipped her hair. "I just wish they would get on with it." She finished with a bored tone.
Kyo glanced at her with concealed knowledge. He knew something she didn't. For now he would play along with her charade.
They turned their attention back to the trial.
"Is there nothing you would like to say in your defense?" The judge asked shocked. He had never heard of anyone accepting charges without some fight.
"No. If I am guilty as many are led to believe, then it stands to reason that I should be put to death."
"Is there none who will speak on your behalf?"
Auron glanced over at Cid. The man stood with his arms over his chest. He stared strait ahead, but Auron caught the slight nod that was directed at him.
"No, sir."
"Very well. The court will convene until we reach an agreement." The judge spoke as he stood and followed Cid out of a side door.
Two guards came up next to Auron and led him out as well, though through a different passage. He pretended to put up a fight if only for appearances. He quickly glanced up to see if Kaleya had seen. She had, good. He smiled internally.
It was almost an hour later when the court came back. Kaleya fidgeted in her seat from waiting so long. Why had it taken so long? The man had pled guilty, it should have been easy. She watched as Auron had his cuffs removed and was aloud to face the court.
"Auron, guardian of Braska, guardian of Yuna; this court has weighed the evidence against you. Since there is none here who can defend you, we have no choice but to.." He was cut off as a shrill female voice cut the air.
"Stop!" Blond hair trailed behind her as she ran next to Auron. Rikku looked up at the court judge and began to speak. "You have to let him go. Auron didn't do anything."
Kaleya was shocked beyond belief. Rikku was dead, how could she be here now? She stood from her seat to look down over her. "You, how are you here?" She shouted. "You were supposed to be dead!"
Rikku turned her attention to the older woman. Many pairs of eyes did the same. "You would know, wouldn't you?" She asked calmly. "After all, you were the one who ordered it."
"You, you." She stuttered. "I don't know what you're talking about." She managed to get out.
"Allow me to remind you then."
Flashback
Cid came to Rikku's room only hours after he had dropped her off telling her to get some sleep. He walked in and shook her awake.
"Rikku, wake up. There's someone we have to talk to." He said quietly.
She rubbed her eyes before looking at him. "Huh, what? Who do we have to see?"
"Just come. You'll see when we get there."
She got up and followed him to the prison. But not before she had her twin daggers. She wasn't about to go anywhere without a weapon again.
"Vydran, where are we going? This is the way to the prison, isn't it?"
He said nothing, but glanced over his shoulder at her. When he arrived he pulled a key out of his pocket, with a hiss, the doors opened for them. He motioned for her to go first.
The next station was the guard station. Flashing identification, Cid spoke. "We would like to speak with the prisoners in cells 32, and 32A."
"Yes sir. Word of warning though sir. We haven't been able to get anything out of them. They refuse to talk."
"Thank you. But I think we may have some different results."
The guard nodded and led them through several locked gates and halls. Rikku knew she would have been lost if she was alone. When she saw who it was her father wanted to talk to, she gasped.
"Vydan, what is this? Why did you bring me here?" She asked as anger and shame hit her after seeing them.
"Let us in." Cid said. "We have our own way of talking to them." He put a hand on Rikku's back. "Come Rikku, we have guests. Let's make them feel at home."
Rikku slowly reached to her hips to make sure her daggers were still there.
"Hehe, I knew you couldn't stay away, bnehlacc." One man joked.
"Shut up! You only speak when you are given permission to. Not before." Rikku yelled. "Now, who sent you after me?"
"We aren't telling you."
"Yeah, you can't make us say anything." The other agreed.
"You will answer her questions, or you will find yourself on the receiving end of her daggers and magic." Cid warned.
"Ha! You think that scares us. We can handle anything you dish out."
Rikku smiled wickedly. "Is that so? Have you ever wondered what it was like to be a eunuch?" (hehe, just for you Chibi.)
They both gulped and glanced back and forth at each other through the bars that separated them. "You, you can't mean that." The taller one, Vina said.
"Try me." Rikku smirked.
Cid left her on her own. She had the confidence she needed now. Besides he was needed upstairs in the courtroom. Auron would be brought out soon, and he had to be there.
An hour and much torture and blood later, Rikku had her answer. Just as she thought, Kaleya was behind it all. They were paid to kidnap and then later to kill her. All in an attempt to take over the Al Bhed. What really made her enjoy what she did though was the fact they admitted that raping her was not part of the deal.
How sweet it was to walk away leaving them broken and bleeding. Someone would be along soon, let them deal with healing the two men. Well one couldn't really call them men, not anymore.
Now all she had to do was stop Auron's execution. Now that she held the truth. She took off running as fast as she could.
End Flashback
"You hired two men to kidnap me. Then had it pinned on Auron. All in an attempt to take over. Why if I didn't know better I would call that conspiracy."
Kaleya looked at her as fear filler her eyes. She turned and took off running. She had to get out fast. Rikku knew she might do something like that, and so was ready. A well-aimed thunder spell shot out at Kaleya. Kaleya fell back, right into the arms of Kyo.
"Kyo, it's you. I'm so glad..." She trailed off when she looked into his face. There was nothing there anymore. Before he used to look at her with such fondness and love. Now there was nothing.
"How could you? How could you hurt her like that, hurt me?"
"But you don't understand. I did it for you, for us." She tried to explain. It came out weak and pitiful sounding.
"Save it." He snapped.
Guards came and he threw her at them. She landed on hands and knees. Looking up at them a lone tear fell. She turned her head back at Kyo as they picked her up. "I really did love you." She whispered.
" Kad ran uid uv so cekrd." He said as he coolly turned away from her. (Get her out of my sight.)
Auron held Rikku as they watched the scene unfold. A newfound respect came over Rikku. She was impressed that he was able to just let Kaleya go.
But she caught the split-second pain that came over him. It didn't last long, and if she had even blinked she would have missed it.
Cid had seen it as well. He was proud of his children, though he would never admit it. It would not be in character. The ruse they used to lore Kaleya had worked. He wondered briefly, just what Rikku had done to find out the truth. He shook that thought away. He would find out eventually.
Kaleya was led out kicking and screaming; all the while saying she was innocent. But it was too late. Her own trial would be soon. The guards took her down to the holding cell where Vini and Zak were held. She silenced enough when she heard whimpering and sniveling. She was then thrown into a cell across from them where she could see them huddled into balls.
"What the hell happened to you?" She asked when she got a good look at them.
Blood covered them and Zak answered in a very unusual high-pitched voice. "Rikku and Cid came to visit."
"Rikku, I'm sorry we didn't let you in on the plan, but it would have caused a problem."
Rikku stood with her hands over her chest and her back to him as he tried to explain. They stood in his apartment later in the evening after all the events of the day had calmed down. "Look, Auron." She turned to face him while waving her arms in the air wildly. "I'm trying to understand this whole thing, but I don't. It really hurt to be left out, you know."
He sighed as his shoulders slumped. "I know, it wasn't my idea. It was Cid's. It was also his idea to take you to see those two thugs. What you did today was amazing though. I was proud of you." He reached out and tried to cup her cheek.
She stepped back from him as a shiver ran down her body. "Please don't." She begged.
His hand lowered back to his side as he closed his eyes. Why was she distancing herself? Was it something he did?
She saw the emotions pass over his face as he thought. She had to let him know it had nothing to do with him. "Auron, I..." she paused.
He opened his eyes and looked at her waiting for her to finish. She paced in front of him a moment before she found the words to say. "I just am not ready yet. It still hurts, oh Yevon it hurts. Just being touched brings it all crashing back. I don't think I can handle that." She trembled and he had to fight the urge to grab hold of her close to him.
He fell back onto the couch and rubbed the bridge of his nose. He changed positions when a spring began to dig into his thigh. He sighed once more. Not this again. Rikku sat down next to him and lay her head on his shoulder. He felt something wet hit his bare arm.
"Rikku, are you ...crying?"
She bolted upright and stood. She made sure to keep her back to him as she attempted to make them stop before he could see. "No." She lied.
Screw not touching her. His love needed to becomforted, and he was going to help her whether she wanted it or not. He stood and wrapped one arm around her waist, as he used the other to turn her to him. He silenced her protests by covering her mouth with his own. She pushed him away at first, but he held her close. Just when he thought she would really let him have it, she began to relax.
He used his tongue to explore her mouth. A slight moan from her seemed all the permission he needed to continue. She realized what she was doing and pushed him away quickly. "Auron, I can't." She began to cry again. Tears streaking down her face.
It broke his heart to see her like this. And he was the one who brought it upon her. "I apologize." He should have known better. She was hurt and abused, that feeling was not going to go away after only a few days. He looked down as she sat on the floor and held her knees to her chin, arms wrapped around them. Part of her shirt moved up showing a large purple bruise on her back. He gasped softly as he sat down next to her and reached out to stroke her back.
She winced at the slight pressure and he stopped immediately. "Don't stop." She whispered.
He began the ministrations again. He then leaned in to kiss her neck. "Are you sure?" He asked when his mouth was next to her ear.
"Yes, I just want to be loved."
Yes, I know short. But it seemed like a good place to stop. You can fill in what happened next with your imagination. I'm not good at writing love scenes. Plus I like to leave something to the imagination. The dream Auron had a few chapeters back was an experament. I may not do it again, but you never know.
Next chapter will be what happened to Kaleya and her goons. Gin